Banding machine



May 20, 1952 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 W. sAcKE-rT 2,597,675

NDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A rra/Elven May 20, 1952 c. w. sAcKETT BANDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed OC.. 18, 1946 INVENTOR. CVar'e/vce l/V 50c/4*@ May 20, 1952 c. w. sAcKETT BANDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 18, 1946 INVENTOR. C70/'ence W Sackeif C. W. SACKETT BANDING MACHINE May 20, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed OCl.. 18, 1946 IN V EN TOR. UVa/'ence W Sac''e Patented May Z0, 1952 UNITED STATS @ATENT'FFI'CE BANDEN G MACHINE Clarence W. Sackett, Warren, Ohio Application October 18, 1946, Serial No. 704,227

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a banding machine and more particularly to a machine for automatically applying a weldable banding material about an object and welding it in place thereon.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a machine for applying banding material such as steel strapping to a coil or other article so as to hold the coil or article under tension and weld the banding material to achieve this result. y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a banding machine incorporating means for fitting a section of banding material about an object to be lbanded, tightening the banding material about the object, Welding the banding material in tightneed position and cutting olf the connecting banding material.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a banding machine including means for effecting the sequence of operations necessary in applying a section of a continuous strip of banding material to an article to be banded, guiding the material about the article, Welding the material and cutting olf the banded and welded section from the continuous strip of material.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a banding machine including means for guiding a section of banding material about an object to be banded, the said means being movably positioned to enable various articles to be positioned in banding position in the machine. t

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a banding machine including means for advancing a section of banding material into banding position about an article and means for determining when the banding material has been positioned about the article to be banded so that the advancement of the banding material may be stopped thereby, and means for reversing the action of the banding material so as to tighten the same about the article being banded.

The banding machine shown and described herein has been devised to form a simple and automatic mechanism for applying, tightening and sealing banding material such as steel strapping about objects to be banded such as coils of steel strip and the like. It is well known that it is a common commercial practice to apply sections of steel strapping to articles so as to form packages thereof or to hold the articles in desired relation such as in coils. It is also known that it is customary to apply the strapping manually to the articles, feed the strapping into 2 tightening devices which tighten it thereabout, and to clamp, lock or otherwise seal the steel strapping in end to end relation to hold it in position on the article banded when the article is banded.

'I'he present invention relates to a machine for accomplishing these several results rapidly and automatically as it enables an article to be banded, the banding material tightened and sealed by welding entirely automatically once the cycle of operations has been started.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in ther details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the banding machine including a wiring diagram in connection therewith.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the banding machine.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the banding machine with parts in cross section and taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the banding machine with parts in cross section and taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevation in enlarged detail of the banding machine show in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the banding machine shown in Figures l and 2 and taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that a banding machine has been disclosed which consists of a frame lil supported on legs l l and carrying a plurality of mechanisms for respectively advancing a strip of banding material directing it about an object to be banded, tightening the banding about the article, welding the banding in position on the article and cutting olf the looped and welded portion of the banding material from the remainder. These several interrelated, mutually cooperative devices comprise the completebanding machine.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings a section of banding material such as steel strapping, indicated by the numeral I2, enters the machine from the right hand end thereof where it passes through a pair of rolls I3 and I4, respectively, the roll I3 being positioned in suitable journals in the frame I and having a roughened surface for frictional engagement with the banding material I2. By referring to Figure 3 of the drawings it will be seen that the roll I4 is positioned immediately beneath the roll I3 on a movably positioned frame I5 which is pivoted as at I6 to the frame .Illandthe .movement of which is controlledby afspring I1 inormally biasing themovable frame I5 downwardly and by a solenoid I8 for moving the frame I5 and hence the roll I4 upwardly when energized. The roll I3 is revolved by means of a V belt drive, the V belt beingjindicated by the numeral I9. The V belt I9 is trained over a pulley in the roll AI3 and over a shaft 22 positioned transversely of the frame I0 in the same manner as the roll I3 and to one side thereof. The shaft 22 also carries a secondary pulley 23 and is adapted to be rotated by a motor :24 :by reason of an interconnecting secondary AV belt 25.

Upon leaving the :rollers I3 and I4, the band- ,ing material I2 moves along the upper surface of a track 23 and passes beneath a reciprocally mountedcarriage .2.1. The carriage 21 is mounted .foralternateback andforth movement lengthwise of the frame I0 immediately above the banding material I2 over the guide 26. 'Ihecarriage 21' is positioned on wheels .28 and includesan upright frame which pivotally supports a pawl 29, the pivot being indicated by the numeral 39. The pawl 29; includes a toothed end section 3I which -is normally biased downwardly and toward the bandingfma'teral I2 by means .of acspring 32. A

solenoid 33.is .pivotally connected as at 34 to the pawl.29;adjacent the toothed end| so .that upon vdepenergization thereof it permits the toothed .end 3I of .the pawl .29 to move downwardly into engagement. with the banding Amaterial I2.

By referring again to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be observed that the carriage 21 is adapted to be moved backend forth by means ofa pitman .35 which is pvoted to the carriage t-lias .by a pivot 36..and to the rollfl3 as .by a pivot 31. Thus, the revolving motion of the roll I3 serves to impart4 reciprocating movement to the carriage 21. It will be observed that the carriage 21 vand the mechanism it supports are out of engagement with the banding material I2 at all i times except when the solenoid .33 isdeenergized. Thus, inthe normal procedure .of banding an article, the banding material I2 moves through this portion of the machine from right to left'. The carriage 21 and its associated mechanisms is employed vfor reversing; the movement of the banding material I2 and tightening it after the foremost end of the banding material has been passed about an object to be banded.

Means for directing the foremost end of the banding material I2 about an object to be banded is included in the machine and comprises a twopart circular guide, a stationary portion of which is indicated by the numeral 38 and a movable portion of which is indicated by the numeral 39. The stationary portion of the circular guide 38 is mounted directly on the frame I0 and immediately therebeneath and is provided with a plurality of rollers 40 in addition to a pair of inwardly extending spaced flanges 4I between. which the banding material I2 is guided. The-movable portion 39 of the circular guide is pivoted to the frame I0 by a pivot 42 and is provided with a projecting handle 43 so that movement may be imparted, to. the movable portion. 39 ofthe circular guide so as to move the same into and out of endto-end engagement with the stationary portion 38 of the circular guide. A spring pressed latch 44 is mounted on the movable portion 39 of the circular guide and engages a keeper slot formed in the stationary portion 38 when the end sections of the stationary and movable guide members 38 and 33, respectively, are in end to end engagement to. form a continuous circular track or guide .for the bandinginaterial I2.

Still referring'to Figures 1 and 4 ofthe draw- .ings it will be observed that the banding material I2, prior to entering the area of the circular guide, first enters a guiding channel 45 and that emerging therefrom, moving toward the left of Figures 1 and 4, it engages the uppermost curved Aportion of .the movable portion 39 of the circular guide and is thereby directed downwardly over a plurality of rollers 46 in the movable portion 39 and by this action its forward motionzisreversedtasiit follows the circulariguide.

It then passes `over the rollers. II-inthe stationary portion 3B of: the. movable guide and eventually completesxa` circle about the article vto vbe banded which is positioned in or partly Within the area ldefined by. thescircular guide.

In Figure 4' of the. drawings a relatively-small coil of material to 'be banded is shown positioned in the circular Vguide. and'this coiled material is indicated by the letterC. The relative spaoingof the handingmaterial I2"about the coil C'is exaggerated for clarity andin this connection it will .be observed that when larger coils of materials are to be banded they may be positioned partially within the circular 'guide formed by the portions 38 .and .'39, heretofore describedy in transverse .relation theretoV or' at right angles thereto so that the handis positioned about a square or Vrectangular section; `ofV the coil rather than yabout the whole coil'.

In vFigure 5 of the drawings a. portion of a coil' C'-I- is shown in transverse relation to the circular guide, supported externally so .as to position an upper part of' the -coil lC-I in banding position.

In Figure 6 a cross section shows a coi-l C in the same position in the circular guide as in Figure 4 of'the drawings.

It will thus be seen` that the disclosure so far provides for the feeding of banding material I2 through: Athe rollers I3 and I4 along the upper surface of the guide. 26, 'beneath the carriage 21 disposed above the guide 26 and into the guide channel 45 and into the circular guide movable portion 39 and the stationary portion 38`so as to form a loop about an article to be banded. In order that the advancement of the banding material I-2 may be stopped when a complete loop of the vsame has been formed in the circular guide members 38' and 39, switch means engageableiwith the advancingbanding. material I2.' and calibrated with respect to the degree of advancement of the said banding material I2 is provided and comprises, asbest shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, a roller 46` having a. portion of its surface lying in the pathl ofthe advancing banding material I2. in the stationary' portion 38 of the circular guide so that the roller 4B is caused to rotate by the frictional engagement of the-banding material l2: passing. thereby; A gear 41 formed, orr the roller 4.6 is engaged.. with a gear 49 which'. is mounted adjacent the; roller 46', both the rollerVv 46 andthe gear 49 being positioned on an extension of the stationary Iportion 38 of4 the -circular guide. The gear 49 is connected by means of a coiled spring 50 with its supporting shaft and carries a dog 5I extending beyond the periphery of the gear 49 :for the purpose of engaging a double vacting electric switch 52 with which electrical wires 53, 54 and 55 are connected.

In operation, the advancing banding material I2 rotates the roller 46 and hence the gear 41 and the gear 49 so that the dog 5I moves counterclockwiseand eventually trips the electric switch 52. The dog 5I is positioned on the gear 49 so that the degree of travel of the dog 5I about the supporting shaft of the gear 49 corresponds in time to that necessary for the end of the banding material I2 to reach and overlap itself so as to form a complete loop. When the switch 52 is actuated by the banding material I 2 having completed its loop formation, certain other actions, electrically controlled, follow to the end that the loop of banding material I2 is held and tightened and eventually cut oif and welded. The several portionsvof the banding machine for accomplishing these actions comprise, for the whole operation with respect to the loop of banding materail I2, a solenoid actuated clamping member 56 connected with the switch 52 by the circuit wire 53. A wire 51 ycompletes an electrical circuit through the solenoid actuated clamping member 5B by establishing electrical connection, as does the wire 54 in connection with the switch 52,

with a main power line, indicated by the numerals 58 and 59. A master switch 60 controls the main power line and is used for over-all control of the banding machine.

By referring now to Figures l and 4 of the drawings the clamping member 56 may be seen to comprise a plunger of a solenoid 6 I, the plunger having a serrated wheel B2 on its lowermost end which forms the actual means engaging the banding material I 2. In order that the end of the banding material I2, which has formed a loop, may be held in stationary relation beneath the wheel 62 of the clamping member 56, a thin pressure plate 63 having a plurality of sharp serrations on its uppermost surface is positioned on the frame I0 and below the wheel 62 of -the clamping member 56 the article being banded so that the end of the banding material I2 is positioned between the pressure plate 63 and the wheel 62 of the clamping member 56. The downward pressure of the clamping member 56, as exerted by the solenoid 6I when energized, serves to hold the end of the banding material I2 firmly in position on the sharply serrated uppermost surface of the pressure plate 63.

Still referring to Figures l and 4 of the drawings it will be observed that when the solenoid 6I is actuated the downward travel of the clamping member 56, which forms the plunger of the solenoid 6I, causes an electrical switch B4 mounted thereon to close thereby completing an electrical circuit by way of wires 65 and 56 through a relay actuated electrical switch 61. The relay actuated electrical switch 61 opens a circuit normally supplying the electric motor 24, the circuit wires being indicated by the numerals 68 and 69 and they will be observed to connect, respectively, with the main power line circuit wires 58 and 59, respectively. Simultaneously with this action the electrical switch 52 will have closed a circuit between the wires 54 and 55 and thereby completed a reversing circuit to the motor 24 causing it to reverse the direction of rotation of the roller I 3, heretofore described. Y The reversing circuit comprises the wires 55 and 10 which 6 communicate with the switch 52 and hence the wire 54 and the main circuit wire 59 and the main circuit wire 58, respectively. The reversing of the direction of rotation of the roller I3, which had heretofore been advancing the banding material I2 from right to left of the banding ma.- chine (as viewed in Figure l), now serves -to move the banding material I2 from left to right thereby tightening the band material I2 and tending to draw the loop formed therein about the article being banded.

Simultaneously with the reversing action of the motor 24 as controlled by the relay switch 61, the solenoid 33 is de-energized thereby permitting the toothed end 3l of the pawl 29 to drop into engagement with the upper surface of the banding material I2. As the carriage 21 is reciprocated, as heretofore` described, this action is imparted through the pawl 29 to the banding material I2 to forcefully move it. As the reciprocating movement is not affected by the reversal of the motor 24, the toothed end 3I of the pawl 29 begins to tighten the banding material I2 with respect to the article ybeing banded as it urges the banding material I2 from left to right as viewed in Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the drawings. The solenoid I3 is supplied with power from the same circuit that supplies the solenoid 33 and it is therefore de-energized by the opening of the relay switch 61, as heretofore described. This permits the relaxation of tension of the rollers I 4 and I3 with respect to the banding material I2. The tightening action on the banding material I2 is thus supplied fully by the reciprocating carriage 21 and its associated mechanisms including the pawl 29.

The carriage 21 includes a movable portion 1I to which the pitman 35 is directly pivoted by the pivot 36, the movable portion 1I of the carriage 21 being connected to the remainder of the carriage 21 by a shaft 12 reciprocatively mounted in an extension of the carriage 21. A spring 13 is positionedvabout the shaft 12 and between the movable portion 1I and the carriage 21. Thus the reciprocating motion imparted to the carriage 21 is always imparted through the spring 13. In operation this construction enables the main portion of the carriage 21, which carries the solenoid 33 and the pawl 29, to move the banding material I2 to the right, in a tightening action, and as the tension on the banding material I2 increases the spring 13 will become compressed as the carriage 21 alters its position in direct ratio tothe degree of tension exerted through the pawl 29 on the banding material I2 in the tightening operation.

The banding material I2 is held in tightened relation by two means, the rst of which is the serrated wheel 62 on the plunger 56 of the solenoid 6I. The serrated wheel 62 is controlled by a ratchet lever pivoted to the plunger 56 as best shown in'Figure 4 of the drawings. Thus, the movement of the banding material I2 is permitted during a tightening action and held against loosening when tightened. The second mechanism for accomplishing this action and insuring the tightening of the band is, as shown in Figures l and 3 of the drawings, a plunger 15 of the solenoid 14. A lowermost portion of the plunger 15 is serrated so as to hold the band against a loosening movement with respect to the article being banded. The solenoid 14 is set at a desirable angle of inclination to achieve its purpose and it is energized by the switch 52 at the same time of the reversal of the motor 24 and at 'which t'x'lle the. tightening action Ori the handing-material l2'islinitl'ated.

`YB'y"'i.'gai'n "referring to Figures l 'and f2 of the drawings it'will be observed lrthat When'tlie tighteningaeti'o'n of the 'carriage 2l has-moved the banding material f2 from `left to right in `the machine jfa Suilcientfdistance Ito .properly tighten th'e band about the article being banded, thespring l3` will have been compressed by the progressive movement 'of the main portion of the carriage 21 carrying the pawl 29 engaging the banding material i2, and that at such 'a predetermined time as the banding material is tight, a finger 18' will engage an electrical switch ll and break the circuit energizing the relay switch 61 which inturn controlstlie solenoid 33 and the pay/128. The switch 11 vwill energize two circuits, one of whichcontrols-a vibrating vsolenoid l, as shown in -Figure '2, to energize a transversely located saw T19 which will Vcut off the banding material i2 at a point forward of the pressure `plate 83 which vunderlies :the overlapped 'banding material l2 on 'top of the larticle being banded.

Simultaneously with the "closingof the circuit controlling the solenoid 18 and hence y'the saw 19, a second circuit is`clo'sed, as shown in the wiring diagram in Figure l, which closes a' `circuit through a solenoid 8B, a plunger 8l of which comprises a welding electrode in combination with the pressure plate 63 which forms the ground 'for the weld. Thus, simultaneously, the circuit to the motor 2'4 is broken, the energization 'of the solenoid 33 lifts the pawl 29'from the bandi-rig 'material l2, the saw 19 is inserat/ed to eilt'tlieban'd andthe band is welded bythe energization of the solenoid 80. A suitablewelding circuit such `as shown in Figure 1 is employed to effect 'the actual welding and a welding transformer is symbolically shown and indicated by the numeral 82.

The removal ofY the yarticle being banded from the banding area lpermits the gear 49 to be rotatedby the spring llll'hence resetting the switch 52 and thus automatically setting all of the parts of' the machine for the next banding operation.

it will'thus be seen that an efficient and entirely-autcnnatic banding machine has been disclosed which feeds banding material automatically, forms the banding material about an article being banded', stops the feeding action, holds the lo'o'p of banding material in looped formation. tightens the banding material on the article hemg banned, heiss the banding materiau in tighterred relation, cuts off the banding material 'and welds the looped portion of the banding material about the article, lall in an orderly sequence rapidly and efficiently.

It 'Will also be seen that the banding machine is capable of use in bandingsmall coilsof material or other articles positioned raxially of the banding areafand that it is equally eilicient in use in banding large coils, the upper portions of which are positioned transversely with respect to the portion of the machine in which the loop of bandingmaterial is formed.

HavingY thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a banding machine having 'guide means positioned about 'ani object to be banded, rolls for advancing banding material in one direction into the said guide' means, the rolls being mounted for movement toward and away from eachother, a rotary' switch operable by said 8. banding material passing around the said'guide means and 'controlling the-position of the'fsaid rolls, areciprocatively actuated carriage having a banding material engaging member thereon, and an "arm pivoted to one of the said rolls and to the said carriage for imparting -movee ment -to the latter, the said member comprising a pawl having means normally urging' tle said pawl intoenga'g'ement with the said banding material'and a solenoidon said carriage for moving lthe -pawl to inoperative position, the said carriage and pawl being adapted to move the banding material'in the opposite direction so as to tighten the same about an object being banded, the said rotary switch'd'e-energizing the said solenoid on the carriage 'simultaneously with themo'vement of the rolls away from each other whereby the direction vof the advancing banding material may be reversed.

2. Ina banding machine, the combination 'of a pair of driven rolls for advancing banding' Inraterial into banding position about an cb'j'ect to be banded, one of the said rolls being movable toward and away from the other, and electrical means for moving the said movable roll toward the other roll, and separate means for reversing the band feeding action upon a loop of banding material being formed about the object to be banded, said separate means including a rotary electrical switch actuated by 'frictional engagement of the said banding material thereagainst, the said electrical means for moving the said movable roll being subject in operation to said rotary switch, and means lfor reversing the direction of the said banding material and comprising a carriage movable lon'- gitudinally of the said banding material, a crank arm connecting the said carriage with one of the said rolls, and means on the said carriage' for frictionally engaging the said banding ma'- terial so as to move it in a direction opposite of that movement imparted by the said rolls, the said means for engaging the banding material being subject in operation to the said *rota'r'y' switch.

3. In a banding machine having guide means' removably positioned about an object to be banded, va pair ofv rolls for advancing banding material in one direction into the said guide means, one of the said rolls being rotatably mounted in the said machine, a frame pivotally mounted in said machine and the other of the' said rolls being rotatably mounted on said frame whereby the last mentioned roll may be moved toward and away from the other roll, a solenoid for `moving rthe said frame whereby the one roll may be moved toward the other, switch means operable by the said banding material passing around the said guide means controlling the operation o'fthe said solenoid, a reciprocativelv actuated carriage having a banding material engaging pawl thereon and an arm pivoted to one or saidrolls and to said carriage for impartingmovement thereto, means normally urge ing said pawl into engagement with the said banding material and a solenoid on said carriage for moving theV pawl away from said banding material, the said carriage and pawl being adapted to m'ove the banding material in the oppositeV direction so as t'o tighten the lsame about an object being banded, the said switch means dfi-energizing the said solenoid on the carriageusimultaneously with the deenerglzation of the first mentioned said soieno'id 'whereby me 9 direction of the banding material may be rereversed.

CLARENCE W. SACKETT.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this lpatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 21,540 Sherwood Sept. 14,1858 1,650,843 McChesney Nov. 29, 1927 Number Number 10 325,285 868,766

Name Date MoChesney Nov. 29, 1927 Cooper Mar. 20, 1945 Workman Oct. 22, 1946 Vning et a1. Mar. 4, 1947 Chamberlain Mar. 23, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 11, 1903 France Oct. 20, 1941 

